Oklahoma Arbor and Bird Day, Friday, March Twelfth, 1909/Part One: Arbor Day/The First Arbor Day

THE FIRST ARBOR DAY.

What is now known almost throughout the civilized world as "Arbor Day" originated in Nebraska. At an annual meeting of the Nebraska State Board of Agriculture, held in the City of Lincoln, Jan. 4, 1872, the Hon. J. Sterling Morton, of Nebraska City, introduced the following resolution, which was unanimously adopted, after some little debate as to the name, some present contending for the word "Sylvan" instead of "Arbor."

"RESOLVED, That Wednesday, the 10th day of April, 1872, be and the same is hereby set apart and consecrated for tree planting in the State of Nebraska, and the State Board of Agriculture hereby name it Arbor Day; and, to urge upon the people of the State the vital importance of tree planting, hereby offer a special premium of one hundred dollars to the agricultural society of that county in Nebraska which shall, upon that day, plant properly the largest number of trees; and a farm library of twenty-five dollars worth of books to that person who on that day shall plant properly in Nebraska the largest number of trees."

Mr. J. T. Allen offered the following resolution, which was also adopted unanimously:

"RESOLVED, That the newspapers of the state be requested by the State Board of Agriculture to keep the resolution in regard to the anniversary day for tree planting, standing in their columns until April 10, next, and to call especial attention of the people to the importance of the matter from time to time."

The newspapers of the state were generous, and kept Arbor Day well before the people. The result was that over a million trees were planted in Nebraska on the first Arbor Day, April 10, 1872. The day was again observed in 1873 with increased interest and results.

March 31, 1874, the first Arbor Day proclamation was issued by the governor.—From "Arbor Day," published by Hon. Robert W. Furnas, 1888.